Bish family seeks clues from track construction work

Sunday

Sep 29, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Shaun Sutner, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

PALMER — The Bish family has been cheered in recent days by the possibility that construction workers clearing a huge site for a race track here could unearth more remains of 16-year-old Molly Bish, the Warren lifeguard who disappeared in 2000.

About two dozen of Molly's bones were found in the vicinity of the track in 2003.

The 650-acre car racing and testing complex is being built near the Ware line, off West Ware Road in the Whiskey Hill area.

Magdalene Bish, Molly's mother, said family members hope that a piece of clothing bearing DNA of Molly's presumed murderer could be unearthed.

Up until now, a small piece of her bathing suit is the only other garment that has been found, and with advances in DNA technology, the Bishes hope a "missing link" could be established to lead investigators to a suspect, and ultimately, justice for Molly.

"We're looking for anything that would help give us information," Mrs. Bish said. "It would help give us Molly back."

Last week, Molly's sister, Heather, of West Brookfield, got in touch with Ann Marie Mires, a forensic anthropologist at Anna Maria College in Paxton who has worked with the Molly Bish Center at the school.

Ms. Mires spoke with officials of the Palmer Motorsports Park and the construction company, and they agreed to look carefully for any remains as they worked, Mrs. Bish said.

On Friday, a state police search dog was brought to the property as well, Mrs. Bish said.

"They were very, very conscientious and took it very seriously about what they could come across," Mrs. Bish said. "They also said they'd be very happy and willing to put up a memorial for Molly.

"That pleased our family that they would be so kind," she added.

Contact Shaun Sutner at ssutner@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @ssutner.